Assam forest officer arrested

Huge amount of cash, wildlife parts recovered

Guwahati: Personnel from Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Cell of Assam Police recovered over Rs 66 lakh in cash, bank fixed deposits certificates worth Rs 30 lakh, numerous investments certificates, a luxury SUV, pass book of at least 13 bank accounts and wildlife parts during a simultaneous raid conducted at the official and private residence of a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Mohot Chandra Talukdar, in Assam on Monday.
The sleuths first caught the DFO while he was taking a bribe worth Rs 30,000 from three contractors at his office at Dhemaji in Northeastern Assam.
In the subsequent search operation conducted in his official residence at Dhemaji, over Rs 62 lakh in cash and fixed deposit certificates worth Rs 30 lakh were recovered.
In a simultaneous raid conducted at the private residence of the DFO in Guwahati city led to recovery of Rs 4 lakh in cash, investment certificates, bank passbooks, wildlife parts including tiger skin, tiger nails, deer skin and ivory.
The sleuths sealed one digital locker and a steel safe at the private residence of the forest official, which could not be opened on Monday.
State forest minister, Promila Rani Brahma has ordered a departmental inquiry into recovery of such huge amount of cash and other valuables from the residences of the DFO.